Friday, March 16, 2012

He's done what we've all known he'd do ... in his own time, in his own way!All honour and glory must go to Sachin Tendulkar. His achievement is that of a colossus of the game!The first cricketer ever to reach a unique record of 100 international centuries, a total comprising 51 Test and 49 One-Day Match centuries, spanning a career of almost 23 years. Surely the blueprint of a titan – with a record that might last 100 years or even forever! Not since Bradman has any player striven so hard for perfection to gain an unmatched peak of success.It’s a fitting tribute to Sachin’s determination and skill that he did not let the disappointment of the last year in trying to gain this one elusive record century – which had culminated in huge disappointment when he failed to deliver at Lords, at home against the West Indies, and then recently in Australia – put him off his purpose. Four times in the last year he’s reached scores of over 80 runs but not the big one.In earlier times he would toss off 4 or 5 centuries a year. But the increasingly taxing build-up to this latest honour was on everyone’s minds – spectators, team mates and opposition players – to the extent that it almost loomed larger than any focus on team victories, and had rattled the Indian side in Australia for the last summer series.Overnight at Mirpur, Dacca, just a tap to square leg and history was once again Sachin’s alone to savour. A unique individual restored to his rightful place as the greatest cricketer the world has produced in this unique period of cricket history, head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, despite his petite frame. Only 5 foot five, yet with every muscle primed for performance, and sporting a perfectly sized package – close to the ground – for batting glory. Not to mention his superb eyesight and reflexes, anticipating the number of runs he would gain from each ball as it left a bowler’s hand.Today was no different – he’d gone out to practice a couple of days before with a few young players as if he was just another team member who needed to sharpen his skills:‘It's never too bad to practice, isn't it? Yes, it was my off day and I wanted to get a feel of things and that's why I turned up. At the end of the day, I love the game and that's why I am here,’ he said. After his landmark century, once again he looked to the sky (no doubt thinking both of God and his late father), raised his arms (as a salute to God and an acknowledgement of the crowd’s support and excitement) and kissed the Indian logo on his helmet.Dispensing with the hype of ‘Sachin is God,’ that so many of his faithful fans chant, Sachin’s simple response was ‘I am not God. I am Sachin Tendulkar.’ He’s always been a devout Hindu, a follower of Lord Ganesh, and believes in living a comparatively simple and extremely disciplined life despite the fame and wealth his carefully-managed career has brought him.‘I felt even after 22 years, the cricket god was testing me over the last one year. I will be honest, I was frustrated at times, but I never gave up.’ Today, as the century neared, Sachin’s batting partner, Suresh Raina, suggested Sachin err on the side of caution and concentrate on singles while Raina took all the risks.‘I've never played cricket for milestones,’ Sachin said after the game. ‘While playing, I have ended up breaking a few records, but that was never my goal. I play cricket just because I enjoy the game. The 100th hundred was the most difficult.’This milestone follows so many others he has achieved: he was just a kid when he first played for India’s national team; Tendulkar became the first man to score a double century in an ODI; he was also the first and the only player to score fifty centuries in the history of Test Cricket, and the first to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined; he became the first batsman to score 15,000 runs in Test Cricket and he passed 30,000 runs in international cricket in 2009; he also holds the world record for playing the highest number of Test and ODI matches.As described by Cricinfo: “Sachin Tendulkar has been the most complete batsman of his time, the most prolific runmaker of all time, and arguably the biggest cricket icon the game has ever known. His batting is based on the purest principles: perfect balance, economy of movement, precision in stroke-making, and that intangible quality given only to geniuses: anticipation. If he doesn't have a signature stroke - the upright, back-foot punch comes close - it is because he is equally proficient at each of the full range of orthodox shots (and plenty of improvised ones as well) and can pull them out at will.”

And the last word must go to Sachin himself: ‘Enjoy the game and chase your dreams. I think dreams do come true.’

Recent disappointment in Sydney now a thing of the past.(Photo CV Williams)

Comment from a fan, Sharon Trevelyan Dean, who wasn't able to post directly on the site:'An inspiring write-up about an inspiring cricketer. Well done, Christine! :-)'And for anyone wanting to find out the answer to Jeremy's post below, contact me directly on cvwananda@gmail.com

Monday, July 25, 2011

A hard blog to post, this time, to report that Sachin has again missed his chance at achieving what must be one of his greatest wishes, to celebrate a 100th century at Lords.

In the second innings of this Test match, with India's prospects poor, we were all hoping he could attain the near impossible - all of us: Indians, Australians, South Africans, even Swedes and Chinese - but not the Brits.

Immediately after lunch Tendulkar and Raina come out to massive applause from a standing crowd. During the morning session the noise from the crowd was near deafening after every ball, but in the later session it was all about quiet and expectancy.

But they didn't - and Sachin played too defensively, causing inner tensions, surely.

Facing balls from Tremlett at 132.8 kph – working hard, never harder - with Raina facing similar treatment from Broad at 138.7kph! Swann comes on and ups the ante as far as he’s able, at a reasonable 87.2 kph! He’s pleading for a drive – but Tendulkar focuses on defence.

Cricinfo is definitely a globalising social force when it comes to keeping up with Sachin's play. The text commentary seems to offer a 21st century equivalent of tuning in the crystal/wireless set for radio announcers’ commentaries back in the day. I understand that was more comfy though, perched forward to hear the thud of bat on ball, then relaxing back into a lounge chair before an open fire, with a beer to hand, or a toddy. Or was it just a cup of cocoa?

But now we can also watch on the internet - and we do!http://crictime.com/server6.htm'

Then suddenly it's all over. Tendulkar's gone to Anderson's skill. Our Sachin walks off the field, head bowed at one point, shy of the honour of a standing ovation shown by admiring spectators who forgive him this lapse.

Only a miracle might one day allow Sachin a third Lords innings ... and it might be some years coming.

Close friend Harsha Bhogle explains that Tendulkar sometimes ‘lapses into defence ... He tells himself I’m going to be here for 12 hrs ... but better to ask questions of the players.’ Harsha's upset for him, clearly, but it's too late, and futile, to chastise.

One keen internet fan tells cricinfo:‘Doing my PHD here in Australia. Have to do some tutoring tomorrow. Am trying to prepare for that. However, can't simply - this Cricinfo commentary is just too addictive. What will I teach my students then?" 'The value of a solid forward defence perhaps?' is the suggestion.

Finally, a defensive focus is of little value without the fire of attacking play.

Tut, tut. Australian university tutors are not so irresponsible about their duties, surely? At least this fellow will now be able to get down to his teaching prep work.

A very sad day for Sachin, for India - and for those who love attacking play, SRT's in particular.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Oh dear, Not again. The nervous thirties, not the nineties.Sachin is out for 34, caught Swann off Broad's bowling in the third day's play at Lords. He managed six 4s off 58 balls.That elusive 100th century on that elusive ground, the hallowed home of cricket.Sachin played confidently until he hit a bad patch in the 30s. And of course we know why - he's never done better than 37 runs at Lords.After one particular no run today, a short ball down the leg side, Prior collected and appealed. Sunil Gavaskar observed that it was a sign of how desperate the English bowlers were for Sachin's wicket.Well, they got it. There were plenty of no runs - yet he was also able at times to shine with some of his usual brilliance, such as when directing a slightly wide of off-stump and slightly short ball through to a successful cover point.He seemed to have it - the footwork, the strength, the grace, the vision. But the thirty-something doldrums - like being a ship at sea that makes no progress - must have rattled him.Never mind Sachin. There's always next time. And we'll be watching.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

It's reported that Sachin Tendulkar spent a quiet day mostly indoors, rather than publicly celebrate his 38th birthday, out of respect for the guru Sathya Sai Baba who died at the age of 85 yesterday.

Yet the Mumbai Indians captain went to work as usual, in a match against Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League at Rajiv Gandhi cricket stadium, Hyderabad.

He is said to have remained inside his hotel room throughout the day to watch television coverage of mourners honouring the guru at the ashram in Puttaparthi.

Then in the evening he led his team to victory, but was not in top form, getting out for 28 runs.

Plans that had been underway to celebrate his birthday - the first since India's World Cup win - were cancelled by management of the Mumbai Indians and officials of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

Sai Baba declared himself an “avatar,” in 1940 at the age of 14, claiming to be a reincarnation of another Hindu holy man, Sai Baba in Shirdi, who died in 1918. Shirdi is a town in western Maharashtra state.

The coincidence of the guru dying on Sachin's birthday will hold great significance for many devout followers of the guru, who was worshipped by millions of bhakti worshippers around the world. They disregarded controversy over allegations of fraudulence that tinged Sai Baba's proven reputation for charity and generosity in donating food, clean water and hospital & medical services to the poor.

Check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at:Searching for Sachin Tendulkar, plus an ebook of interviews with Sachin's friends and cricket notables.www.searchingforsachin.net/

Monday, December 20, 2010

Yes, Sachin has done it. The first batsman ever to reach the extraordinary Test target of 50 centuries.It’s a record he may hold long into the future - perhaps always considering the state of Test cricket - with his nearest competitor, Ricky Ponting, back at the 39 mark. The record century, comprising one 6 and twelve boundaries, was gained in front of a buoyant Centurion South African crowd. How would you feel being Dale Steyn bowling to such a colossus?Take a look at this Ten Sports exclusive video.Once again Sachin looked to the skies as he achieved the almost impossible – there was no doubt he believed his father’s soul was looking on. In fact he made the comment:"The first thing obviously I thought of was my father because I wanted to do it for him. Yesterday was his birthday, and I would like to dedicate this to him." Of his remarkable achievements this year – 7 test centuries - Sachin has commented:"I am playing for the love of it."Harish Krishnamachari, the senior vice president of World Sports Group, the marketing firm that handles Sachin Tendulkar, is negotiating a multi-million deal signed between Tendulkar and Coca Cola . “It (the 50th Test ton) doesn’t make any difference to Brand Sachin. In the last couple of years, he has reached a level where there’s no comparison. Anything he does will not impact the brand. People will just choose to look at what he’s up to next,’’ he said.And with talk of Sachin’s admirable refusal of a beer sponsorship, he’s a sure thing not to be tempted to ruin his concentration on extreme fitness...................................................................................Alas, I wasn’t lucky enough to be present to witness Sachin's historic feat – quite the opposite in fact – due to a prior commitment in hospital. And it seems timely that I leave this blog unattended for a couple of months with my feet up during the Christmas-New Year break, as it will take that long to heal my recently-broken leg.In 3 weeks my leggings have gone from this:

to this, after surgery by a specialist referred to as ‘The King of Ankles’ in Sydney. And I can’t even boast I suffered the ‘maisonneuve’ fracture on a cricket pitch.No disrespect to The Great Tendulkar - but I won’t be posting again anytime soon – though I will nevertheless be up and running when Sachin’s glorious goal of 15,000 Test runs is achieved – a record certain to be knocked over during the upcoming World Cup year.Instead check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at:Searching for Sachin.All best wishes for success in 2011 to the most extraordinary cricketer in the world, Sachin Tendulkar ....

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Check out earlier blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at:Searching for Sachin TendulkarSachin’s power to impress almost beyond belief has not yet deserted him. Will it ever? We can only watch in wonder at his latest triumph, a double century and some.

On the Bangalore ground today he stood like a great tree in a forest, a tree on which all the lesser plants rely for protection. Or perhaps a block of granite, a soaring a pillar of security in the centre of his countrymen’s attack on their opponents. Until Tendulkar was defeated, Australia could not advance. As soon as he fell, his team crumbled to dust.

Even the manner of his defeat was appropriate to the occasion. Despite his vigilance, finally Tendulkar was taken by surprise by callow fast bowler, Peter George capturing his first Test wicket, an exceptional gift George will glory in his whole life long.

What drives Sachin? The pursuit of excellence? A competitive nature that insists that the Commonwealth Games will not outshine his own and India’s favoured sport, cricket?

He’s a marvel. His score was accrued through diligence, patience and great attention to detail. His score of 214 runs comprised 92 singles and 11 twos. Even so, in 363 balls he also impressed with 22 boundaries and two amazing sixes. This his 6th double century was a scorcher!

Along with millions around the world, Ricky Ponting surely couldn’t help but feel moved to witness Sachin’s purple patch, so that now he can only call on his teammates, ‘Play up, play up and play the game’.

For, in the spirit of high competition and the example of Sachin as a model of excellence, tomorrow is another day ... another chance for all to excel, Australians especially.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Check out our other blogs edited into an exclusive ebook at: http://www.searchingforsachin.net/Sachin Tendulkar has scored his 49th Test century – reinforcing his standing as world batting record-holder.

Not long to wait for another Sachin century is what I wrote in this morning’s blog!

Howzatt!!! No, not out. He's very much in.

With batting partner Murali Vijay, Sachin’s doggedness took India to 224 by lunch today in reply to Australia's 478 in the second and final Test in Banglaore.

Sachin Tendulkar, also the record-holder with 46 one-day hundreds, reached his 49th Test ton with 15 boundaries and two sixes in the morning’s play.